Montana Grizzlies score winner in overtime to beat Idaho 1-0

MISSOULA – For the second game in a row, Montana picked up an overtime victory, defeating Idaho, 1-0, on Friday night. The win is Montana’s third in a row – and fourth consecutive result – and matches last year’s season win total at nine.

After no score through the first 97 minutes, senior Allie Lucas scored the game-winner off of a corner kick.

“I thought it was a very good performance by our team,” head coach Mark Plakorus said. “Idaho’s a very good team, especially defensively, and it’s very difficult to break them down.”

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The two teams combined for just five shots in the first half, but in the second half, Montana started to find its rhythm, taking eight shots – including six on goal. During an 18-minute stretch late in the period, Montana took seven consecutive shots before Idaho got its next attempt off.

“We remained patient,” Plakorus said. “We didn’t get flustered. We moved the ball and stuck to our game plan.”

While the Grizzlies out-shot Idaho, 15-8, the Vandals did have a couple close looks, including a shot that hit the crossbar in the 58th minute and a penalty kick in the 87th. Montana has not allowed a goal in more than 173 minutes.

Lucas’ goal came in the 8th minute of overtime, off of a corner kick from Charlene Burger. The Griz played it short to Chanelle Pederson, whose cross was headed but blocked. The loose ball was played by Lucas, who fired it from straight on and into the top of the net. The goal was the third of the season for Lucas, tying for a team high.

Goalkeeper Claire Howard saved both of Idaho’s shots on goal to record her sixth shutout of the season. Ellie Otteson (3), McKenzie Warren (3) and Raye Burton (2) led the Griz in shots.

The win snapped Montana’s three-match losing streak to Idaho and was the team’s first win in Moscow since 2005, also snapping a three-game skid.

“It’s a tough place to play and a different experience,” Plakorus said of playing on a football field inside a dome. “You don’t see a lot of soccer games being played inside, but the girls did a great job of adjusting to the turf and lines.”

Montana will now travel to Cheney, Wash., to take on unbeaten Eastern Washington. The Eagles are 5-0-1 in conference play and are out-scoring their opponents 15-1.

“We have to get rested and try to get recovered,” Plakorus said. “We have a big challenge ahead of us against a team that’s playing well and scoring a lot of goals.”

Derek Buerkle is the sports director for KPAX. He grew up in Big Timber, and graduated from Sweet Grass County High School. He loves that he is able to live and work in his home state and in a town as special as Missoula.